Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Helpers–extraction workers support extraction operations and typically enter the field with a high school diploma or equivalent. National employment is relatively small at about 7,000 workers, so this is a more specialized path within the broader construction and extraction family. The role relies heavily on mechanical knowledge, physical strength and stamina, and fine motor skills, along with strong attention to detail and sound problem solving and decision making. Interpersonal and leadership abilities can also matter, especially when coordinating with others on projects that require clear communication and teamwork. With a national median salary of $48,400, the occupation offers earnings that can be enhanced by developing mathematics, science, and project management skills over time. People considering this career may also want to explore related paths such as extraction workers (all other), rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators, helpers–electricians, sailors and marine oilers, or brickmasons and blockmasons as alternative options in physically oriented, hands-on work environments.
Helpers–extraction workers earn a national median annual salary of $48,400. Pay varies across states and metro areas, which can influence earning potential over the course of a career. Among the top states by opportunity score, New York shows a median salary of $54,910, while California and Maryland are close, at $51,720 and $51,020. Virginia also offers a median of $50,350, and Colorado’s median salary is $37,450. At the metro level, New York–Newark–Jersey City stands out with a median salary of $60,470, higher than the national figure. Other notable metros include Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia at $48,690, Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach at $46,890, Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington at $47,730, and Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington at $43,940. These differences suggest that location choice can significantly affect pay outcomes for workers in this occupation.
Helpers–extraction workers have national employment of about 7,000, with projected employment growth of -1.7%. This indicates a small overall contraction in jobs over the projection period rather than expansion. Even with this decline, the occupation is expected to have about 1,000 annual openings. These openings reflect ongoing hiring needs, which may include workers moving to other careers or leaving the labor force. For job seekers, this means that while the total number of positions is not projected to grow, there will still be opportunities to enter the field as employers replace departing workers. Because overall employment is modest in size, competition and opportunities may vary from place to place, making it helpful to pay attention to locations with stronger opportunity scores or higher employment counts when planning a job search or career move.
Location choices matter for helpers–extraction workers, both for pay and for concentration of opportunities. At the state level, California has the highest employment among the top states listed, with about 1,170 workers and a median salary of $51,720, paired with an opportunity score of 67.38. New York has fewer workers (210) but a slightly higher median salary of $54,910 and an opportunity score of 65.78. Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland have smaller employment levels, ranging from 80 to 190, with median salaries between $37,450 and $51,020 and opportunity scores from 52.88 to 56.97. In metro areas, New York–Newark–Jersey City stands out with a strong opportunity score of 77.27, median salary of $60,470, and employment of 170. Other metros such as Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, and Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach show moderate opportunity scores and employment ranging from 50 to 110, giving candidates multiple geographic options to consider.
Typical entry into helpers–extraction workers roles requires a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the career accessible to individuals who complete secondary education and want to move quickly into the workforce. However, success in the field depends on developing a broad mix of practical and cognitive skills. Mechanical ability, physical strength and stamina, and fine motor skills support the hands-on aspects of the work. Detail orientation and strong problem solving and decision making are also important for working safely and effectively. Mathematics and science knowledge can contribute to understanding measurements, systems, and processes used in extraction settings. Project management and leadership skills become more relevant as workers take on greater responsibility, while interpersonal skills help with communication and teamwork on job sites. Together, these abilities can support both day-to-day performance and potential advancement within the broader construction and extraction career family.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
